Trump appeals $83.3m E Jean Carroll civil verdict to US Supreme Court

Legal representatives for President Donald Trump have initiated Supreme Court proceedings to challenge a substantial defamation judgment in favour of writer E Jean Carroll. The verdict, which awarded Carroll $83.3 million, stemmed from Trump's public statements denying her allegations of sexual assault at a Manhattan department store and characterizing her claims as fabricated for personal gain. Notably, the Department of Justice has filed its own petition supporting Trump's position, arguing that presidential immunity should shield the sitting president from personal civil liability for conduct undertaken within the scope of federal office.

Trump's legal strategy rests on two primary arguments. His personal attorneys contend that statements made by a president in interactions with the public and media constitute "official acts" deserving immunity protections. They reference the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Trump v United States, which established "presumptive immunity" for presidential actions within constitutional authority, though that precedent technically applies only to criminal prosecution. Federal lawyers separately invoked the Westfall Act, a statute designed to shield federal employees from civil suits when alleged harm occurs within employment scope.

Lower courts have rejected this immunity framework for civil cases. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan declined in September of the previous year to extend criminal immunity protections to civil proceedings. Trump's legal team argues this represents an unprecedented situation—the first instance in American history where a court has imposed damages liability on a sitting president for conduct in office. The case originated in 2019 when Carroll filed suit after Trump denied her assault allegations, with a second lawsuit following in 2022 when Trump reiterated his denials through social media posts.